"He wants to improve the health care bill so he can vote for it, addressing the concerns of Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Paterson, so New York gets its fair share, removing anti-abortion language, and protecting more small businesses from mandates," Goldin said.

He was referring in part to complaints from state officials that the legislation will unfairly require more Medicaid spending from states, like New York, with policies that are already generous.

Goldin dismissed the question of whether Ford would vote for the current bill, saying the language is in flux.

ALSO: A reader notes that the abortion rights tack is new for a candidate who, down South, was proudly "pro-life."